At the start of the year Louis pledged to have his head shaved if Ipswich didn't finish in the top three in the Elite League, and they need to beat Bees if they are to maintain that hope.

Ipswich currently trail Coventry by 11 points but have three matches in hand, so could still overhaul Colin Pratt's side if they claim all the points available to them.

Bees hope to have Lee Richardson fit to take his place in the side after bruising his foot in Saturday's Craven Shield win over Belle Vue, and they again reverse their two reserves to track Paul Lee at No. 6 and Billy Janniro at No. 7.

Tonight's fixture is Coventry's penultimate Elite League match, with only Friday's trip to champions Oxford remaining. Tomorrow night Bees complete their Craven Shield group programme when they travel to Belle Vue.

Robson, who is set to take on the manager's role of one of the teams in Saturday's Challenge match at Brandon between Billy's Bandits and Greg's Gringos, said: "I would like to thank the Nuneaton Speedway Supporters for organising the collection, and all the fans who contributed."

Robson, currently sidelined with a fractured vertebra, still can't drive, though he hopes to be given the all-clear to get back behind the wheel sometime next week. He is unlikely to work again before Christmas.

*SATURDAY'S GP Challenge in Slovenia was the last before the World Championship qualification system is changed.

Next year the Grand Prix series - set to run to nine rounds, with a distinct possibility of an Australian GP - will be supported by a new-look World Championship event.

There will be four quarter-finals, two semis and a qualifying final that would provide four riders for the 2003 Grand Prix line-up